Student creates suit for the blind

The creation is called Runa Tech, two Kichwa words meaning “human” and “of technology,” and is a suit for blind people. Inspired by a bat’s mobility, Condo said the suit uses ultrasonic sensors that emit vibrations to direct a person around objects. The suit has seven sensors total, which are located around the waist, down the arms and legs and across the shoulders.

The sensors emit low sound frequencies that are picked up and translated by an Arduino microcontroller. The microcontroller uses one algorithm to calculate how far away the obstacle is and the height of the obstacle and emits vibrations on the suit with increasing intensity to alert the user as the obstacle nears. The vibrations stop once the user evades it.

“This technology suit can replace a bastón — a cane,” Condo said. “The method of communication is very friendly with [the] user, and I try to create technology to help people.”
Condo said he spent the equivalent of about $8,000 to build one working prototype, and that there are still come kinks to work out: The suit cannot be worn under clothing and it wouldn’t work in the rain. He said he would need about $1 million to start any kind of real industrial production, and attention attracted from investors who could fund the project hasn’t been enough.

The cost to produce the suits in the U.S. would be lower, Condo said, but blind people in his community still couldn’t afford the suits, and that’s what matters the most. And this isn’t his first project that he hopes can help people — he’s also worked on communication technology for people who can’t speak.

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/2FC9Jt7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2vmb9EjJXc